Ever since the 2023 schedule was announced san diego padres looking forward to this weekend
stems from anticipation padres Signing free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts, a former boston red sox All-Star, 11-year, $280 million contract in December
padres Boldly outlined May 19-21. Boston is coming up against a much-improved San Diego for a three-game series padres The team that included the Bogarts
it was going to be a milestone weekend for padresLike their opening two matchups against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. But May 19… Something went wrong on the way to May 6-17
padres Go in red Sox The series went on to lose nine of their last 11 matches to slip to fourth place in the National League West. And that wasn’t the worst news of the week. It has been learned that Manny Machado suffered a hairline fracture on his left hand on Monday night when he was hit by a pitch
padres Manager Bob Melvin was not saying how long Machado would be sidelined. He said that at the moment it is not a question of the injured list. But Machado was unavailable to pinch-hit on Wednesday when San Diego loaded the bases three times with less than two outs in a second straight one-run loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Now red Sox come to san diego And while Boston is in last place in the American League East, its record is four games better. padres‘ thanks to two straight wins against the Seattle Mariners coming earlier in the week.
padres struggled to hit in the clutch, holding a league-worst .196 average with runners in scoring position, while red SoxHis .294 average in those positions is second only to the Texas Rangers’ .331 mark.
On Wednesday against the Mariners, Boston jumped out to a 9–0 lead, sending eight hitters in the first and 10 hitters in the second.
The series begins Friday night with a matchup of the left-hander – against Boston’s James Paxton (0-0, 3.60 ERA). padres‘ Blake Snell (1-5, 4.61)
Paxton will make his second start for the team red Sox Since Boston signed him as a free agent on December 1, 2021. Paxton, 34, had Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in 2022.
he made his red Sox Made his debut last Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over five innings.
“It was good for James and all of us to see that,” said Boston manager Alex Cora. “Not only that, our pitching is getting healthier. Our roster is getting healthier. It’s encouraging.”
A healthy, contributing Paxton can be a huge plus for you red Sox
“Last year he was very close to contributing and it didn’t happen,” Cora said. “Obviously in the offseason, I think a lot of people thought he was going to get out. And he decided to stay here.
“We’ve been working hard. It was a strange off-season, spring training as well, but we’re happy for him that he’s ready to perform. It’s about him being able to compete at this level, it’s Most importantly. And after that, we’ll go from there.”
Paxton padresGoing 1-1 with 1.98 ERA, 1.527 WHIP and .241 opponents’ batting average
Perhaps the best thing going for Paxton on Friday is positioning padres‘ offense and the possibility that Machado won’t be in the starting lineup
“He can’t catch a bat,” padres manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday. “Unless he can catch, he can’t swing.
Melvin didn’t give a timeline for when that might happen.
San Diego has scored 30 runs in its last 11 games. And six days after Melvin addressed the team, he stressed the need to play more quickly. padres A closed-door, players-only meeting took place on Wednesday
padres Snell is 1-7 in starts, but has a 3.54 ERA in his last five starts. Career starts at 12 vs. red SoxSnell is 7-3 with a 2.59 ERA.
Bogaerts entered the matchup with six homers and 16 RBI in 43 games with his former teammates sporting a .275/.374/.431 batting line.
– Field Level Media